Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast RSS

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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Mon, December 30th, 2013 - 7:00AM
Expires
Tue, December 31st, 2013 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
John Fitzgerald
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

The avalanche hazard continues to be MODERATE today above treeline.   It is still possible for humans to trigger pockets of slab up to a foot in depth in steep upper elevation terrain.   Below treeline the avalanche hazard is LOW, where the entire snowpack is losing strength and the ability to produce any slab avalanches.

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Mon, December 30th, 2013
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Moderate (2)
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Avalanche risk
Moderate (2)
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Danger Scale:
No Rating (0)
Low (1)
Moderate (2)
Considerable (3)
High (4)
Extreme (5)
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Persistent Slabs
    Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
More info at Avalanche.org

Avalanche activity has been on the steady decline over the past week.  The last reported human triggered avalanche in the forecast area occurred on Thursday December 26th.  The nature of a persistent weakness in our snowpack is such that instability continues for extended periods.  While the likelihood of triggering a slab avalanche gets lower with each passing day, the possibility still remains.  The setup still exists for a slab avalanche to occur, especially in steep terrain above treeline.  Test results have been confirming this over the past several days.  It is getting more difficult to initiate an avalanche, but the possibility for an avalanche to propagate across a slope remains.

With all of this in mind, it will be important to approach steep slopes in the higher elevations with caution.  It may be possible to get onto multiple slopes in this category without incident but eventually find a slope that will avalanche.  Because of this possibility it is worth continuing to use good travel habits; one at a time on a slope, avoid being above your partner, have an escape route planned and carry & know how to use your safety equipment.

Weather
Mon, December 30th, 2013

In the past 24 hours the mountains around Eastern Turnagain Arm have seen temperatures remain mild, with ridgetop stations averaging in the mid 20s F.   Winds have been out of the East at 15-20mph with gusts to 43mph.   No new precipitation has fallen.

Today expect cloudy skies with an occasional flurry.   Ridgetop temperatures will remain mild in the mid to high 20s F and winds will be out of the East at 15 to 20 mph.

The overall weather picture is complex with a series of weak low pressure systems to the South and West.   This will produce an unsettled pattern with cloudy skies & only small amounts of precipitation.   The next shot of accumulating snow looks to arrive Tues night into Wednesday morning.

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Riding Areas
Updated Thu, June 01st, 2023

Status of riding areas across the Chugach NF is managed by the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts, not avalanche center staff. Riding area information is posted as a public service to our users and updated based on snow depth and snow density to prevent resource damage at trailhead locations. Riding area questions contact: mailroom_r10_chugach@fs.fed.us

Area Status Weather & Riding Conditions
Glacier District
Johnson Pass
Closed
Closed May 15.
Placer River
Closed
Closed May 15.
Skookum Drainage
Closed
Will close to motorized use on April 1, 2023 per the National Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass
Closed
Will close on June 1.
Twentymile
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Seward District
Carter Lake
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Lost Lake Trail
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Primrose Trail
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor
Closed
Extended opening until May 15.
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Summit Lake
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.

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This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area. This advisory does not apply to highways, railroads or operating ski areas.